Lumber-stacker.



R. E. SURLES.

LUMBER STACKER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21. I915- 1,@25,5%3@ Patented May 8,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET Sums. LUMBER STACKER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 27. I915- 1,%,%o Patented May 8,1917.-

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

R. E. SURLES.

LUMBER STACKER.

APPLICATION men rm. 2?. 1915 muantoac Patented May 8,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 ROBERT E. SURLES, OF CUTHBEBT, GEORGIA.

LUMBER-STACKEB.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 8, 1917.

Application filed February 27, 1915. Serial No. 10,979.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT E. SURLES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cuthbert, in. the county of Randolph and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lumber- Stackers, of which the .following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for 2 handling lumber and similar products, and

has for one of its objects to provide a simply constructed apparatus whereby the lumber may be easily transferred from the trimmer apparatus to stacking trucks or like devices, preferably the trucks on which lumber is stacked for transfer to dry kilns, and has for one of its objects to simplify and improve the construction and increase the utility and efliciency of devices of this character and to reduce the time and labor required to handle the material.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simply constructed device whereby the lumber r like material may be auto matically conveyed from the trimmer apparatus to the stacking trucks or like devices, and which is adjustable to enable the lumber to be conveniently transferred and the receiving and transferring portion of the device adjusted vertically as the stack increases in size.

\Vith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereinafter shown and 3 described. and then specifically pointed out in the claims; and in the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of the improved apparatus.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation with the track for the trucks in section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 8 and at are detached perspective views of the members for supporting the terminals of the spacing strips.

Fig. is a detail view similar to a portion of Fig. 1 illustrating another modification in the construction.

Fig. 6 is an elevation of the modifiedstructure shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective detail of a portion of the member for holding and guiding the outer ends of the spacing strips.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the accompanying drawings by the same reference characters.

The improved apparatus may be readily adapted without material structural change to the delivery portion or" trimmer mechanisms of any of the usual forms, and is located between the trimming mechanism and the transfer trucks upon which the lumber is stacked previous to its being conveyed to the dry kilns or to the stacking lumber out of doors into stacks or piles. The improved apparatus is usually erected upon the ordinary platform employed in de *ices of this character, and in the drawings the platform is represented conventionally at 10, and the tracks for the trucks at 11 of the usual construction.

One of the trucks for receiving the lumber is represented conventionally at 12 with its upper surface level with the upper surface of the platform. Erecte d upon the platform is a supporting frame comprising vertical members 13 and horizontal members 14, the vertical members 13, nearest to the track 11, being provided with channels 15. Slidably disposed in these channels are guide blocks 16, and extending between the guide blocks 16 is a transverse supporting member 17 having pins, indicated at 18, engaging in the guide blocks so that the member 17 is free to swing relative to the guide blocks and adjustable with the blocks vertically in the channels 15, the object to be hereafter explained.

Mounted for rotation in the vertical members 13, farthest from the track 11, is a shaft 19, and swinging upon this shaft are links 20 carrying another shaft 21 at their free ends.

hfounted to swing upon the shaft 21 near its ends are beams 22, the beams being connected to the transverse member 17 and supported thereby. beams may be elevated and depressed at one end with the member 17. Mounted for rotation at the free ends of the beams 22 is a shaft 23 carrying chain pulleys 2st operating in slots in the beams, while similar chain pulleys 25 are connected to the shaft 21 and operating slots in the beams. Open ating over each pair of the chain pulleys is an endless chain 26 having carrying spurs or fingers 2? at suitable inter vals. By coupling the beams 22 and their attachments to the shaft 19 by the links 20,

By this means, the y the beams and their attachments may be adjusted vertically with the member 17 without cramping the parts, as will be obvious.

Connected to the channeled members 13 are horizontal guide members 23, and arranged to support vertical guide members 29, the members 2829 being permanently secured relative to the platform 10. The platform 10 is provided with an opening between the members 28-29 and mounted for vertical movement between the guide members and operating through the opening in the platform is a saddle frame including side members 30-31 connected at their lower ends by a transverse member 32 and hinged at 33 at their upper ends to the member 17. Mounted upon the platform 10 is a shorter supporting frame, indicated as a whole at 34, and carrying cable guide pulleys 35 spaced apart and over which a cable 36 passes. One of the guide pulleys 35 eX- tends into the space between the members 3031, and the cable 36 passes thence downwardly and is connected to the cross member 32. At its opposite end the cable 36 is provided with a counterweight 37, the latter preferably operating in a cavity in the ground beneath the platform. A suitable cavity is also formed in the ground to receive the lower ends of the members 31-32 when in lower position, to enable the beams 22 to be lowered to a point near the frame 34. By this simple arrangement the beams 22 and the carrying chains may be adjusted vertically to a relatively great extent, the object to be hereafter explained.

Mounted to swing at their upper ends upon the shafts 23 are a plurality of relatively short supporting members 39. Any required number of the members 39 may be employed, but for the purpose of illustration three of these members are shown. Projecting forwardly from each of the members 39 is a supporting bracket 40 with the upper surface preferably slightly curved downwardly, as shown in Fig. 1. Connected rigidly at 41 to each of the bracket members 40 is a support or standard 42, each of the standards being relatively long and eX- tending through openings in the platform 10 and into pits beneath the platform.

The standards 42 are coupled respectively to the shorter supports 39 by horizontal members 43 and braced as shown at 44. De pending from each of the members 40 is a loop device 45, each preferably formed with a depression at the outer end as shown in Fig. 1. Mounted to swing by an eye' 46 through each of the loop devices is a vertical member 47 each having a vertical channel 47. At their lower ends, the members 47 are notched and thereby engage over pins 48 in the extended ends of the members 43.

t The bracket members 40 are so disposed that they receive the lumber as it is discharged from the chains 26, as hereafter explained.

Formed in the rear edges of the standards 42 are a plurality of notches 49 in which pawls 50 are received to hold the members 42 and the endless chains carried by the beams 22 from downward movement. By this means, the conveying device 2226 is adjustable to any required extent within the range of the notches 49, as will be obvious.

The standards 42 are connected by a transverse member 51 which extends at the ends beyond the members 42 and is supported by brace rods 52. The frame 22, together with the guide members 13, beam 17 and its attachments, and links 20, serve as supports for the upper portion of the member 42 and its lumber receiving attachments, as well as incidentally to carry the conveyer chains.

Posts 53 are located at the opposite side of the track 11 from the platform, and are connected at their upper ends by a transverse member 54. The posts 53 are provided with oppositely directed pins 55 spaced apart and adapted to receive the outer ends of foot boards 56, the inner ends of the foot boards resting upon the member 51, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The posts 53 are spaced a suflicient'distance apart so that the foot boards 56 are located beyond the ends of the platform of the truck 12. The foot boards are utilized to support the operators who handle the lumber and transfer it from the bracket members 40 to the trucks, as hereafter explained.

The transverse connecting member 54 is provided with a plurality of guide apertures corresponding to the members 4047, and mounted for vertical movement through these apertures are members 57. The members 57 are each formed in two parts spaced apart a distance equal to the width of the channels 47 of the members 47, and connected at their ends by spacing blocks 58, as shown in Fig. 5. At their lower ends the members 57 rest upon the edge of the platform of the truck 12, while the lumber is being deposited thereon, as shown in Figs. 1

and 2.

The trimmer apparatus generally includes sprocket wheels and traveling chains by which the lumber is transferred to the platform 10 and, for the purpose of illustration, one set of the chain wheels of the trimmer mechanism is mounted upon the shaft 19 shown at 59 with the usual endless chains 60 operating thereon. The shaft 19 is shown provided with a chain wheel 61 to which the power for rotating the shaft is applied, and connected to the shaft 19 is another chain wheel 62 carrying a chain 63 which engages over a chain wheel 64 on the shaft 21. By this means motion is transmitted from the shaft 19 to the shaft 21 and the chains 26. By this means the lumber received from the chains is delivered to the chains 26. Depending from certain of the horizontal members 14 of the main frame are hangers carrying a shaft 66 and mounted to swing upon this shaft are arms 67 which project toward the shaft 19 and are adapted to receive the lumber discharged from the chains 60.

Each of the arms 67' is provided with a lever arm 68 the latter being connected by a transverse member 69 and limited in their downward movement by stops 70. The member 69 supports a rod 71 carrying counterweights 72.

The arms 67 are designed to receive a plurality of pieces of lumber and any sufficient number may be received, the number to be received being controlled by the weights 72.

The weights 72 may be increased or decreased in number to control the number of pieces of lumber to be received upon the arms 67. For instance, if six pieces or boards are to be received, a suflicient number of. the weights will be employed to slightly overbalance five boards, and then when the sixth board is received, the arms 67 will be depressed and the lload dumped upon the chains 26, the weights, automatically returning the members 67 to first position ready for another load.

The beams 22 and the chains 26 may be of any required length, and it is not desired to limit the apparatus in this respect.

'With the apparatus thus constructed, the operation is as follows:

An empty car 12 is run upon the tracks. 11 in position to receive thereon the load and the lower ends of the members 67 disposed in position thereon as shown in Figs, 1 and 2. The pawls 50 are then released and the members 22 and their attachments. disposed in their lowest position or with the member 51 in contact with the floor 10. This will bring the members A0 a short distance above the platform of the car.

A set of the parting strips, represented conventionally at 73, is then disposed upon the floor of the car ready to receive the first layer of boards. Motion is then imparted to the mechanism by power applied to the chain wheel 61, or by other suitable means.

The lumber being received upon the chains 60 of the trimmer is discharged from thence upon the arm 67, and when a sufficient number of the pieces of lumber, preferably six more or less, has been received thereon to overbalance the weight 72, the load is automatically discharged as above described upon the chains 26. The lumber thus deposited is carried forwardly by the chains 26 and delivered upon the brackets 40 and thence transferred manually by the operators, who stand upon the foot boards 56,

and distributed upon the strips 63 on the truck 12.

Another set of the parting strips 73 is then disposed upon the layer of lumber just deposited with the ends of each strip in the channels 47. of the members 47 and the corresponding space between the parts which constitute the members 57.

Another layer of lumber is then deposited and so on continuously. As the load increases upwardly, the frames 22 and their attachments are moved upwardly step by step by utilizing the pawls 50 in the notches or seats 49, thus keeping the brackets 40 substantially in convenient position'for the operators upon the running boards 56.

By this means, the load is built up with the parting strips between each layer of lumber and the parting strips retained in position by the channels in the members 4:7 and the space between the parts which constitute the members 57. When the load is completed, the members 57 are moved outwardly to release the terminals of the parting strips at one side of the load and the members l7 elevated to release their lower ends from the pins a8 and the loops 46 moved inwardly over the horizontal portion of the members 45 to release the terminals of the parting strips at the adjacent side of the load. The running boards 56 are then removed and the loaded car run out to the dry kilns or other locality and an empty car run upon the tracks to receive the next load.

The members 4757 are again disposed in thev position before described ready to receive the parting strips as required. It will be understood that the machinery is stopped while the transfer of the cars is being made.

In Figs. 5 and 6 a modification of the construction is shown consisting in a receiver for the material at the discharge end of the conveying device and of means for holding the material back until a certain predeter mined quantity has been received thereon, and then discharging this material upon the parting strips and then releasing the parting strips and permitting them to fall upon the load upon the truck. In the modified structure the member 57 is replaced by a vertical channeled member 75, preferably formed of wood combined to produce the required shape, as illustrated in Fig. 7 and pivoted at its upper end at 76 in the bracket members 54 and resting at its lower end upon the platform of the truck. The channeled face of the member 7 5 is directed toward the stacking apparatus and is designed to receive the outer ends of the spacer strips 73, as illustrated in Fig. 5.

In the modified structure the members 40 are replaced by horizontal members 77 which are connected respectively to the member 39 and to which the upper end of the members 42 are connected, as shown. The members 77 extend forwardly of the members 42 and are each provided with a guide plate 78. In the modified structure the member 42 is provided with an arm 79 which is in vertical alinement with the projecting end of the member 43 and to these members 43 and 79 a guide member 80 is hingedly united at 81, the member 80 taking the place of the member 47 in the structure shown in Fig. 1. A button or other like fastening device 82 is connected with the member 7 7 and holds the member 80 in its outward position and against the lumber upon the truck to hold the adjacent edges of the latter in alinement while being piled upon the truck. When the truck is to be removed, the button 82 is released and the member 80 is turned upon its hinges to dispose it out of the way of the load upon the truck. Connected to the shaft 23 above each of the members 7 7 is a supporting bar 83, the lower ends of the bars 83 being connected respectively to the members 77. In the modified structure, the braces 44 are extended upwardly to engage the members 83 and support them as illustrated in Fig. 6. Mounted for rotation through the members 83 is a rod 84 having an operating handle or lever 85 at one end to enable the rod to be rotated. Mounted to swing upon the rod 84 along the side of each of the members 83 is a supporting arm 86, each arm being upturned at its outer end, as shown at 87. Each of the arms 86 is likewise provided with a spring 88 operating to maintain the arms yieldably in one position with the upturned terminals 87 projecting above the upper edges of the bars, the object to be hereafter explained.

The plates 7 8 extend beyond the adjacent ends of the members 77 and mounted for rotation through these plates is a rod 89 having an operating handle 90 at one end, as shown. Connected to the rod 89 adjacent to each of the plates 78 is a collar 91, each collar having a set screw whereby it may be rigidly coupled to the rod. Extending downwardly and thence laterally from each of the collars 91 is astop finger 92, each stop finger slidably engaging through the adjacent plate 78. The rod 89 is slidable longitudinally through the plates 78 and, when in one position, the fingers 92 project beyond the plates 78 and when the rod is moved in the opposite direction the fingers are withdrawn or moved toward the plates. A stop collar 93 is attached to the terminal of the member 89 to limit the longitudinal movement of the same so that, when the member 89 is moved in one direction, the fingers 92 will not be removed entirely from the plates 78. The fin gers 92 are designed to support one end of one of the spacer strips 7 3, as illustrated in Fig. 5, to hold the same in inclined position while receiving their load of the lumber. The bars 83, it will be noted by reference to Fig. 5, are in position to receive the lumber as it is discharged from the conveyer device and passes thence to the spacer strip 73 which, for the time being, is supported by the fingers 92. When the lumber isto be deposited upon the truck 12 the members 42, together with their attachments, are disposed in their lowest position as before described, or with the conveyerdevice at its nearest point to the floor 10. A' set of spacer cient quantity has been deposited thereon to form one of the layers of lumber, the arm 85 is released to permit the spring 88 to move the terminals 87 into their upper positions to retain the lumber upon the arms 83. The rod 89 is then moved endwise by the attendant pulling upon the lever 90 to withdraw the fingers 92 from beneath the inclined spacer strips and permit them to drop, together with the layer of lumber carried thereby, into parallel relation to the truck platform of the truck. The rod 89 is then moved endwise in the opposite direction to dispose the-fingers 92 in position to receive another set of the spacer strips. The lever member 85 is then moved outwardly to retate the rod 84 and withdraw the projecting terminals 87 from the path of the lumber which has been deposited upon the arms 83 and permit the same to pass upon the inclined spacing strips and thus produce another layer of lumber which is discharged in the same manner, and so on continuously until the load is completed. As the quantity of lumber increases upon the truck, the member 42, together with its attachments, are elevated to dispose the parts in a new position, as before described. By this means the lumber is deposited upon the truck mechanically instead of manually as illustrated in the construction. shown in Fig. 1.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. An apparatus of the class described comprising a receiving device, means adapted to support parting members and carried by said receiving device, guide de vices for said parting members spaced from said supporting means, and means for vertically adjusting said receiving device.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, a vertically movable receiver, a stationary guide device spaced from said receiverand adapted to support one end of spacing strips, and a support for the other end of said spacing strips removably connected to said receiver.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, a vertically movable receiver, a beam carried by said receiver, vertical supports spaced from said receiver, supports for one end of spacing strips carried by said vertical supports, supports for the other ends of said spacing strips and movably connected to said receiver, running boards engaged at one end by said beam, and means for supporting the other ends of said running boards from said vertical supports.

4;. In an apparatus of the class described, a vertically movable receiver, stationary vertical supports spaced from said receiver, supports for one end of spacing strips sWinging from said stationary vertical supports, and supports for the other ends of said spacing strips and movably connected to said receiver.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, a member mounted to swing, supporting members connected to said swinging member, holding means adapted to engage said supporting members at a plurality of points, a receiving device for the material and carried by said supporting members, means for holding the material upon the receiving device and discharging it therefrom, a rod slidable relative to said supporting members and carrying supporting fingers adapted to engage spacer members, and means for moving said rod longitudinally to withdraw said fingers from engagement with said spacer members.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

E. L. MORBURY, N. B. SOLOMON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). 0. 

